Dec. 8, 2006

ANAHEIM, Calif. -

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GAMEDAY CENTRAL
DATE: Dec. 9, 2006
SITE: Honda Center (17,608)
TIP-OFF: 11:30 a.m. PST
TV: CBS
TALENT: Jim Nantz (play-by-play) and Billy Packer (analyst)
RADIO: AM 570 (KLAC)
TALENT: Chris Roberts (play-by-play) and Don MacLean (color)
SIRIUS RADIO: Channel 107
WEB: www.uclaBruins.com
SERIES: UCLA leads 2-0

UCLA vs. TEXAS A&M
UCLA leads the all-time series 2-0. The Bruins won the first meeting 81-71 on Dec. 23, 1961 in Houston. None of today's current players were even born the last time these two teams met, which was back on Dec. 11, 1971. UCLA won that home game 117-53, which stands today as the Bruins' fourth-largest margin of victory (64 points).

NATIONAL POLLS
UCLA was preseason rated No. 5 (tied with Pittsburgh) in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll and No. 6 in the Associated Press poll, marking the second straight season that the Bruins were ranked in the preseason polls. The Bruins are currently ranked first in both the Associated Press poll and the ESPN/USA Today poll.

UCLA IN THE WOODEN CLASSIC
This is UCLA's 10th appearance in the John R. Wooden Classic and its third time entering as the highest ranked team. The Bruins are 6-3 all-time in Wooden Classic matchups. UCLA is 5-0 in the Wooden Classic when they are ranked and 1-3 as an unranked team. The Bruins entered last year's Classic ranked 16th and handed 17th-ranked Nevada a 67-56 defeat (Dec. 10, 2005), snapping a two-game losing streak in the Classic. Jordan Farmar led the Bruins with 24 points while Arron Afflalo chipped in 18 points. Darren Collison added 10 points and four assists. Nick Fazekas led Nevada with 24 points.